3 February 2025- 17 March 2025 (Week 1-7)
Chika Clarissa Widjaja / 0378636
Intercultural Design / Bachelors Of Design (Creative Media) / Taylor's University
Task 1: Development & Design
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. INSTRUCTIONS
2. LECTURES
3. PROJECT 1- PROPOSAL
4. PROJECT 2- FIELD STUDY
5. PROJECT 3- FINAL PROJECT
6. REFLECTION
INSTRUCTIONS
LECTURES
Week 1 - Culture & Design
Why Visuals Are Important
A lot of people find visuals more engaging than text. In fact, most of the information our brain takes in is visual, and we process images way faster than words.What Are Visuals?
a) Visuals include everything we can see, even things in nature.
Figure 2.1 shows a simple drawing of a tree. It’s just a tree with no extra details or meaning attached to it. On the other hand, Figure 2.2 has different versions of a tree that are influenced by specific cultures, like Buddhism and Nordic traditions. This shows how visuals can be used to represent cultural ideas or messages.
Why Culture Matters in Design
a) It’s important to make sure designs are respectful and don’t misrepresent any culture.
b) Designs should match the cultural background of the audience they’re meant for.
c) Considering culture can make a design more meaningful and effective.The Design System
Design can be broken down into three steps: Basic Assumptions, Norms & Values, and Artifacts & Products.The process works in two ways, if you’re analyzing a design, you start from step 1 and move to step 3. But if you’re creating a new design, you start at step 3 and work backward.a) Basic Assumptions – This is about the purpose of a design within a certain culture, including beliefs and values.
b) Norms & Values – This focuses on how the design looks and functions, including style, elements, and aesthetics.
c) Artifacts & Products – This is where the design is actually created based on the information from the first two steps.Being Culturally Aware in Design
a) Symbols & Images – Symbols can have different meanings in different cultures, so designers need to be careful not to cause misunderstandings.
b) Color Choices – Colors have cultural meanings, so picking the right ones is important.
c) Fonts & Language – Text styles and translations should be accurate and culturally appropriate.How to Make More Inclusive Designs
a) Inclusive Design – Making designs that work for people of different cultures, backgrounds, and abilities.
b) Localization – Adjusting designs to fit a specific cultural setting so they feel more relevant.
c) User Research – Getting feedback from people of different cultures to understand what works best for them.
d) Cultural Awareness Training – Learning more about different cultures to design in a way that is respectful and informed.
PROJECT 1- PROPOSAL
Week 1
The first week was mainly focused on forming our group for the assignment. We were assigned to Group 33, and I was chosen as the group leader. To keep communication smooth, we created a WhatsApp group for discussions. Most of the week was spent getting an overview of the module and understanding the assignments we’d be working on.
Group 33 Members:
- Group Leader: Subhana Salim
- Brendan Fedya
- Sara Patel
- Nikolas Shah
- Hannah Abdullah
- Chika Clarissa Widjadja
- Christopher Jayson Tan
Week 2
During the second week, we focused on brainstorming topic ideas and getting approval from our lecturer. Our initial idea was "The Effect of Westernization on Malaysian Culture." After finalizing our topic, we worked on the Project 1 proposal. To stay organized, we split into three smaller groups, each focusing on a different aspect related to our main topic:
- Malaysian fusion food
- Uniform design
- Menu design
Week 3
After discussing with our lecturer, we refined our topic and decided to focus specifically on "The Effect of Westernization on Malaysian Cuisine" for our TikTok project. This week was spent wrapping up our research and finalizing our PowerPoint presentation. We also had to record a 10-minute video where we explained our Project 1 proposal and our overall process.
MY CONTRIBUTION
For this assignment, one of my responsibility was to design the menu with my other team member, Christopher Jayson Tan, and helped Subhana Salim on the presentation in terms of visuals.
PROJECT 2- FIELD STUDY
Exploring Different Dining Experiences
This week, we focused on comparing traditional and Westernized Malaysian restaurants by visiting a few spots around SS15. To get a good contrast, we checked out Nasi Kandar Pelita and Canai Cafe, which are known for their authentic Malaysian food, and Jibril, which represents a more modern, Western-influenced dining experience. At Pelita, we tried Nasi Kandar and Nasi Biryani, while at Canai Cafe, we ordered Roti Canai and Roti Pisang as dessert. For Jibril, we all shared a fusion dish—Butter Chicken Chop Pasta. Throughout the visits, we took notes and recorded our experiences to better understand the key differences between these dining styles.
How We Conducted Our Research
Gathering Background Information
Before visiting the restaurants, we did some research to understand how Malaysian cuisine has been influenced by Western culture. This helped us know what to expect and what specific elements to compare when we visited the restaurants. We then searched for a few nearby places that represented both traditional and Westernized styles to make the comparison more meaningful.
Observations & Findings
1. Restaurant Atmosphere & Setup
One of the biggest differences we noticed was the overall environment of the restaurants. The traditional spots, like Canai Cafe and Pelita, had a casual, open-air setup with minimal air conditioning. Ordering was either self-service at the counter or by calling over a waiter for drinks. In contrast, Jibril had a completely enclosed space, requiring us to pass through a couple of rooms before reaching our table. The restaurant had dim lighting, soft music, and British-style wallpaper, creating a more upscale and intimate atmosphere. The service was also different—unlike the self-serve style at the traditional restaurants, Jibril had a waiter hand us the menu and take our order directly at the table.
2. Food, Pricing & Serving Style
The pricing and portion sizes also stood out. The meals at Pelita and Canai Cafe were generally cheaper, ranging from RM1 to RM20, while Jibril’s menu had dishes priced between RM20 and RM40. Traditional restaurants served larger portions, whereas Jibril’s servings were slightly smaller but more refined in presentation.
Another difference was how the food was served. The traditional places followed a buffet-style approach, where customers could mix and match dishes to pair with their rice. At Pelita, for example, we could pick from a variety of side dishes to customize our meal. Meanwhile, Jibril stuck to a set menu, offering a mix of fusion dishes that blended Malaysian and Western flavors.
When it came to taste, the differences were clear. Authentic Malaysian food had a stronger mix of bold, savory, and spicy flavors, heavily influenced by Indian and Chinese cuisine. Rice was the centerpiece, with various flavorful side dishes to accompany it. In comparison, the Westernized restaurant focused more on fusion meals, incorporating elements like pasta and fries, with flavors leaning towards the sweeter side. Instead of rice-heavy meals, the focus was on reinventing Malaysian dishes with a modern, Western twist.
3. Taste Test & Our Thoughts
To properly compare the food, we made sure to try a variety of dishes at each restaurant. This helped us get a real feel for the differences in flavors, presentation, and overall dining experience.
Among all the dishes we tasted, the Butter Chicken Chop Pasta at Jibril stood out as the clear favorite. The creamy butter chicken sauce combined with spaghetti and crispy fried chicken was a unique and flavorful combination. On the other hand, the least favorite dish ended up being the Roti Pisang, as the mix of banana and Roti Canai didn’t quite work as well as we expected.
At the end of the day, we realized that both styles of cuisine have their own appeal. While traditional Malaysian food delivers strong flavors and hearty portions, the fusion approach brings a fresh, creative spin to familiar dishes.
Documenting the Experience
To keep track of everything, we took videos, photos, and voice recordings of our visits. We documented moments like driving to the locations, ordering food, and sharing our reactions. These recordings helped us reflect on the experience and compare our thoughts afterward.
PROJECT 3- FINAL PROJECT
My Contribution
In Project 3, we started our TikTok page. I edited all the videos to maintain consistency, as I was the one with editing experience and had access to the Pro features in CapCut.
I faced several challenges while editing the videos. One of the main issues was that I had already edited two videos, each around two minutes long. When we checked the brief, we realized that the limit for each video was 50–60 seconds. As a result, I had to cut down a lot of clips, audio, and text into four separate videos, which took a significant amount of time. Not to mention, finding the right background sound was also a challenge. In total, I edited 6 videos.
To ensure clear audio with no background noise, I used a free AI background sound remover called Auphonic. I had to apply this to each voice recording individually.
FINAL SUBMISSION
Tiktok page: https://www.tiktok.com/@makan.mashup?_t=ZS-8us2bgsErQ2&_r=1
Gdrive Link: https://drive.google.com/drive/u/0/folders/10mWD5ocNlBcPM6m20uqnpsNy9PjAueI3
REFLECTION
I was always interested in cultures and design. With those two combined, that's the reason why I had fun during this module. Throughout this module, I’ve learned a lot about the Malaysian culture, how it got affected by colonization by the western, and how everyday design impacts our life. Before, I didn’t really think much about how Malaysia is westernized due to colonization and how it affects its menu design, restaurant, and environment. Through this semester my eyes were opened and it made me go "Ohh so that's why" every time i discover something new through researching. I now understand how crucial it is how good research can create a well-thought-out and impactful design.
One of the biggest things I improved on was my editing skills and time management. At first, I found it difficult because of the amount of videos I had to edit. Though 6 videos doesn't seem a lot, It takes quite a long time for me. Because of this, I get to manage my time more specifically to meet the deadlines, therefore improving my time management skills.
I enjoyed filming and editing the most as I get to have a lot of creative freedom from my team members and improve on my skills. I discovered a lot of features while editing that I've never seen before like the copyright check, auto captions, etc.Another thing I enjoyed was learning about Malaysian and Western cultures through research. It was interesting to see how their traditions, art, and design styles differ, yet sometimes share similarities. I found it fascinating how culture influences things like colors, patterns, and storytelling in design. Researching these aspects made me more aware of the meaning behind certain design choices and how they connect to history and identity. It also gave me a new perspective on how culture plays a huge role in shaping creative work.
Complications that I face throughout this module is when going out to visit the restaurants, we struggled to find parking, the place was hot, and we had a budget. Editing the videos came with a fair share of challenges. One major problem was that I had already put together two videos, each running about two minutes. It wasn’t until we reviewed the brief that we realized the time limit for each video was only 50–60 seconds. Because of this, I had to shorten a lot of clips, adjust the audio, and condense the text to fit within four separate videos, which took a lot of effort. Finding the right background music was also tricky. When we uploaded the Interview video, It got copyrighted twice and I had to re-edit the whole audio. In total, I worked on six videos.
Overall, this experience has helped me grow, and moving forward, I want to enhance my research skills in design, and learn more about design in different cultures.
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